Silver Pines Chalet, June Lake CA

A version of this review was initially submitted to Vrbo.

Please do your due diligence and research this rental thoroughly before booking. This rental is one room in a much larger building of 9 separate rooms. Each has its own separate listing on Vrbo. I highly recommend looking them up on Google for reviews. They operate under several names including "June Lake Chalet", "Silver Pines Lodge", and "June Lake Lodge. " Additional digging will reveal that each of these listings is managed by a Patricia Kennedy with the same phone number listed here.

Edit: In reading the reviews posted here on Google, I unfortunately noticed many similarities to our experience. Notably, the frequent room changes and last minute cancellation that you will read about below.

I booked this rental Dec 2,2022 for Dec 27-30,2022. Not exactly early, but far enough out that I wasn't expecting any issues.

Dec 11, we receive a message on Vrbo that I did not initially see, informing us that Room 5 was no longer available and to please call.

Dec 12, having not seen the previous message; I submit a request to update the number of people from 2 to 4. I had friends who were interested in coming along and I began to make arrangements to include them.

Dec 14, a voicemail informs us that they needed to move us to a smaller unit that only has a single queen bed if I wanted to keep the reservation.

In a subsequent phone call, Patricia explained that the room was no longer available and asked if the dates were flexible, stating that she could accommodate 4 in two separate rooms should I move my dates back. My dates were not flexible at the time and I declined to change it, accepting the smaller room and, in turn, having to uninvite my friends.

Dec 21, six days before our trip. A text informs us that they (Patricia) are experiencing a family emergency and need to cancel and would issue a refund. Alarmed, I call back immediately. Patricia informs us that she can try to house us elsewhere. Meanwhile I find another Vrbo listing for different dates Dec 28-31, for much less money and make a reservation request. Turns out it's a listing for the same building, but a different room.

It's at this point we decide to just move our dates. Patricia apologizes, offers to comp a day, refund the difference, and invites us to stay here again in the summer free of charge. Later we find that only the offer for a free stay in the summer was an option. Ultimately, I decided to decline this offer as I was tired of dealing with this. I also was not refunded the difference, but I accept it as premium for booking during the holiday season.

Dec 28, we arrive 15min after the 4pm check-in to find nothing ready and no one on-site, rooms empty and open. A phone call informs us to wait an hour, as the manager was stuck at the laundromat cleaning linens. We're eventually settled in by 5: 45pm however the unit had not been thoroughly cleaned as the manager was in a rush to finish the rest of the rooms.

The photos of the rental on Vrbo are not of one specific room, but cherry picked-from all other rooms. We spent some time looking in rooms looking for someone on-site before the call informing us to wait an hour.

I need to point out that at no point were our conversations with Patricia or the manager anything less than cordial and civil. They seem like warm, wonderful people, just unfortunately unable to maintain high standards at their business.